Originally Posted by
R57 relay
TQ NOLA made a good point that the union had to make a decision that they felt benefited the pilot group best. Many long haul trips are paid no rig at all, so not all pilots would benefit by the long rate or 1:3.25 rig.
That could be better stated as "APA made a decision that benefited themselves" (or the majority of their main constituents -- senior dudes) the best. On one hand, we should have seen this coming -- after all, they are going to show us how a "real union" does things (kind of like "cool northern efficiency" back in the day...). On the other hand, it probably should not surprise us that the big group pays lip-service to the small group, and moves forward doing whatever they want, regardless of the cost to the smaller group (sound familiar????).
The 1980's mentality that AA management so espoused (everything for the top/management, regardless of the cost to the bottom/workers) is also alive and well in the APA (focus on the senior "dudes" regardless of the cost to the junior "kids"). ("Don't worry, you'll be senior someday, 'Son'"). Until we get past that attitude (and start looking at contract provisions that protect everyone equally), we'll always have a sub-standard contract.
Anyone that didn't see this coming (East or West) had their head in the sand (or somewhere else....). I'm sure that this is just one of the many things coming....